Foran promises plenty in Bulldogs debut

Kieran Foran has signalled he's ready to return to his brilliant best and turn around Canterbury's NRL fortunes.

Foran was outstanding in his first outing for the Bulldogs despite going down to Melbourne 36-18 in Perth on Saturday.

After two years in which he was beset by shoulder and hamstring injuries, off-field controversies and a well-publicised battle with personal problems, New Zealand halfback looked like the Foran of old.

With his first touch of the ball he sent Raymond Faitala-Mariner through a hole to open the scoring at Optus Stadium.

Along with Faitala-Mariner and Moses Mbye, Foran was a standout in what was new coach Dean Pay's first game in charge.

His combination with five-eighth Matt Frawley showed plenty of promise that the Dogs could do something in this year's competition.

"It's a new combination, it's going to take a little bit of time," Pay said of the Foran-Frawley partnership.

"They've worked really hard in the off-season, today is a starting point, we can only go forward."